Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress party has suspended District Congress Committee (DCC) member Chenti Anil from its primary membership following an incident in which he allegedly obstructed the Chief Minister’s vehicle and behaved rudely to him.

Thiruvananthapuram DCC president N Sakthan announced the suspension order, issued on the instructions of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph.

Following the incident, the police arrested Chenti Anil under non-bailable charges. The remand report submitted before the Vanchiyoor Court reveals that Anil is listed on the police rowdy register and faces several criminal cases registered across the Sreekaryam, Thumba and Medical College police stations.

Anil previously stirred controversy after holding a meeting at his residence with notorious Thiruvananthapuram gang leaders Puthenpalam Rajesh and Om Prakash.

The incident

According to the complaint, the incident occurred at Chenti while Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram via Sreekaryam to attend a function at the Chempazhanthy Sree Narayana Gurukulam on Friday.

When the Chief Minister stated that the Chenti event was not part of his official schedule and that he would be unable to inaugurate it, Anil stepped in front of the vehicle to block its path.

An argument ensued between the Chief Minister and Anil. When the Chief Minister urged him to speak politely, Anil reportedly retorted, “What will you do if I don't speak politely?” The Chief Minister's security personnel subsequently intervened, pulled Anil away, and cleared the route for the vehicle.

Responding to reporters while in police custody, Chenti Anil alleged that the action against him was politically motivated and claimed that he was a victim of party factionalism.